Wilma Bunting

Wilma Reed Bunting, the daughter of Dellmond Eldy and Iva Belle (Reed) Hadley, was born July 25, 1916, in Adair County, near Fontanelle, IA. Wilma entered eternal rest at Corning Specialty Care, Corning, IA on March 26, 2016, at the age of ninety-nine years, eight months, and one day.
Wilma attended Country School in rural Adair and Adams Counties. Following her eighth grade graduation, Wilma worked as a housekeeper and cook for numerous farm families. She married Kenneth Clayton Bunting, on February 26, 1937, in Creston, IA. They had grown up as neighbors in the Mt. Etna community, and she actually met him during a baseball game. This was a sport she loved, and the story is told she “safely” slid into second base with Kenny covering the bag, as second baseman. This started the friendship that would lead to a life spent together in Adams County. They started on a farm southwest of Mt. Etna and eventually moved to a farm closer to Corning. Wilma was a farmwife and homemaker. Their marriage would be blessed with the birth of their son Ronald. Ronald would serve his country in the Vietnam War and heroically gave his life in Vietnam on February 10, 1968. Wilma was identified by our Nation, as a “Gold Star Mother”, through her son’s sacrifice. Kenneth and Wilma moved to Corning in 1974. Later in life she was hired at the Corning Meat Locker, where she worked for thirteen years.
Wilma had many interests during her life. She was a member of the Corning United Methodist Church. She bowled in the Women’s Bowling League for several years and also enjoyed sewing as well as tending to her gardens. She was a “fun-loving” person who always enjoyed a party with family and friends. A big part of Wilma’s life was spent watching the race cars at the Adams County Speedway. She could be found most Saturday nights watching her nephew, Chris Spieker, at the dirt track. With family at the center of her life, she will be missed by many.
Left to cherish Wilma’s memory are six nieces: Linda (Larry) Pettit, Fairfield, IA; Beverly Embree, Des Moines, IA; Janice (Jack) Kretzinger, Corning, IA; Jean Bredensteiner, Shenandoah, IA; Janice (Craig) Stamp, Omaha, NE; Delores Hare, Amarillo, TX; two nephews: Butch (Sheila) Symonds, Massena, IA; Curt (Julie) Symonds, Massena, IA; niece-in-law: Marcella Gearhart, Corning, IA; several great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends, as well as the staff and friends at Corning Specialty Care.
Preceding Wilma in death was her husband Kenneth in 1994; her son, Ronald; her parents; brother and (sister-in-law), Keith (Pauline) Hadley; sister and (brother-in-law) LaVonne (Robert) Symonds; sister-in-law and husband: Rowena and Bill Gearhart; nephew: Todd Stamp.